DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan

 Pro·por·tion n.
 1. The relation or adaptation of one portion to another, or to the whole, as respect magnitude, quantity, or degree; comparative relation; ratio; as, the proportion of the parts of a building, or of the body.
    The image of Christ, made after his own proportion.   --Ridley.
    Formed in the best proportions of her sex.   --Sir W. Scott.
    Documents are authentic and facts are true precisely in proportion to the support which they afford to his theory.   --Macaulay.
 2. Harmonic relation between parts, or between different things of the same kind; symmetrical arrangement or adjustment; symmetry; as, to be out of proportion. “Let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith.”
 3. The portion one receives when a whole is distributed by a rule or principle; equal or proper share; lot.
    Let the women . . . do the same things in their proportions and capacities.   --Jer. Taylor.
 4. A part considered comparatively; a share.
 5. Math. (a) The equality or similarity of ratios, especially of geometrical ratios; or a relation among quantities such that the quotient of the first divided by the second is equal to that of the third divided by the fourth; -- called also geometrical proportion, in distinction from arithmetical proportion, or that in which the difference of the first and second is equal to the difference of the third and fourth.
 Note: ☞ Proportion in the mathematical sense differs from ratio. Ratio is the relation of two quantities of the same kind, as the ratio of 5 to 10, or the ratio of 8 to 16. Proportion is the sameness or likeness of two such relations. Thus, 5 to 10 as 8 to 16; that is, 5 bears the same relation to 10 as 8 does to 16. Hence, such numbers are said to be in proportion. Proportion is expressed by symbols thus:
 a:b::c:d, or a:b = c:d, or a/b = c/d.
 (b) The rule of three, in arithmetic, in which the three given terms, together with the one sought, are proportional.
 Continued proportion, Inverse proportion, etc. See under Continued, Inverse, etc.
 Harmonical proportion or  Musical proportion, a relation of three or four quantities, such that the first is to the last as the difference between the first two is to the difference between the last two; thus, 2, 3, 6, are in harmonical proportion; for 2 is to 6 as 1 to 3. Thus, 24, 16, 12, 9, are harmonical, for 24:9::8:3.
 In proportion, according as; to the degree that. “In proportion as they are metaphysically true, they are morally and politically false.”
 --Burke.

 Con·tin·ued p. p. & a. Having extension of time, space, order of events, exertion of energy, etc.; extended; protracted; uninterrupted; also, resumed after interruption; extending through a succession of issues, session, etc.; as, a continued story. “Continued woe.” --Jenyns. “Continued succession.” --Locke.
 Continued bass Mus., a bass continued through an entire piece of music, while the other parts of the harmony are indicated by figures beneath the bass; the same as thorough bass or figured bass; basso continuo. [It.]
 Continued fever Med., a fever which presents no interruption in its course.
 Continued fraction Math., a fraction whose numerator is 1, and whose denominator is a whole number plus a fraction whose numerator is 1 and whose denominator is a whole number, plus a fraction, and so on.
 Continued proportion Math., a proportion composed of two or more equal ratios, in which the consequent of each preceding ratio is the same with the antecedent of the following one; as, 4 : 8 : 8 : 16 :: 16 : 32.
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